South Korea Launches Ambitious Plan to Address Doctor Shortage with Regional Medical System
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A sweeping overhaul of medical education and practice is underway in South Korea, aimed at alleviating critical doctor shortages in underserved regions. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on Thursday, December 20th, the enactment of regulations supporting the “Act on Training and Support of Local Doctors,” initiating a regional doctor system designed to incentivize medical professionals to practice outside of major metropolitan areas.
Addressing Regional Disparities in Healthcare Access
For years, South Korea has grappled with a significant imbalance in healthcare access, with a concentration of doctors in Seoul and other large cities. This new initiative seeks to reverse this trend by establishing a system where medical school graduates are obligated to serve for a decade in areas near their high schools, specifically targeting medically vulnerable cities and counties.
The plan centers around two key components: the introduction of the regional doctor system to 32 medical schools outside of Seoul, starting with the 2027 school year entrance exam, and the establishment of a new ‘Public Medical Academy’ (tentative name) alongside newly established local medical schools, both projected to enroll approximately 100 students each beginning in 2030. These measures are expected to yield at least 400 additional doctors through the regional system alone in the coming years.
How the Regional Doctor System Will Work
The core of the system involves a 10-year mandatory service commitment. According to a senior official, doctors graduating from the program will be required to practice in the region surrounding the high school they attended. For example, a graduate of a high school in Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, would be obligated to work in Yeongju-si, Yecheon-gun, or Bonghwa-gun. This is a deliberate effort to prevent doctors from gravitating towards more lucrative opportunities in larger cities.
The government has categorized regions for quota distribution into nine metropolitan areas – including Gyeonggi-Incheon, Daejeon-Chungnam, Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, and Jeonbuk – and 44 mid-care treatment areas. Application to the regional doctor selection process will require graduation from a high school within the relevant metropolitan area, with a more stringent requirement for students in the Gyeonggi and Incheon regions, who must also be middle school graduates of the region. This standard will be applied starting with the 2033 college entrance exam cycle.
New Medical Schools and Projected Doctor Output
The establishment of public medical schools, envisioned as “graduate schools of medicine” specializing in public health fields like firefighting, police, and forensic science, represents a significant investment in expanding medical capacity. Combined with the new local medical schools, these institutions are projected to produce around 600 doctors by 2037.
This influx of medical professionals is crucial in addressing the projected doctor shortage. The government recently revised its estimate of the 2037 shortage downward, from a high of 7,261 to a maximum of 4,800. Even with the anticipated 600 doctors from the new schools, at least 1,900 additional doctors will be needed, underscoring the importance of the expanded regional doctor system.
Next Steps and Timeline
The government is moving quickly to finalize the details of the plan. An announcement regarding the increase in medical school capacity is expected before the Lunar New Year, with a decision potentially as early as January 3rd. Officials have indicated they will incorporate feedback from expert discussions scheduled for December 22nd and the Medical Innovation Committee on December 29th.
This comprehensive strategy represents a bold attempt to reshape the landscape of medical education and healthcare delivery in South Korea, prioritizing equitable access to care for all citizens. The success of this initiative will depend on careful implementation and ongoing evaluation to ensure it effectively addresses the challenges of regional healthcare disparities.
